Pichincha Province · Ecuador
Where to stay in Quito
Quito is a city in Pichincha Province, Ecuador, home to about 1,763,000 people.
- Best months
- July to September
- Nearest airport
- UIO21 km · Mariscal Sucre International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/Guayaquil
- Language
- Northern Quichua, Shuar, Spanish
About
About Quito
Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and second-largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 1.7 million in the city and 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha.
Quito stretches across valleys between two mountain ranges which are part of the Andes. At an altitude of 2,850 m (9,350 feet), it is one of the world's highest capital cities. The altitude is high enough that most individuals will experience some degree of altitude sickness for the first few days, so plan accordingly. Quito is roughly divided into three parts: the Old City at the center, with southern and northern districts to either side. It was the first city to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 (along with Kraków in Poland).
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Quito
See
- Conjunto monumental San Francisco
- Plaza Grande / Plaza de la Independencia
- Museo Nacional -- MuNa (formerly Museo del Banco Central)
- Casa de la Cultura
- Museo de la Ciudad
- Botanical Gardens
- Museo Etnohistorico de Artesanias del Ecuador Mindalae
- Itchimbia cultural complex and park
- Museo Guayasamin and Capilla del Hombre
- Calle de la Ronda
- La Vírgen del Panecillo
- Museo Casa del Alabado
Do
- TelefériQo
- Hike Pichincha Volcano
- Go Mountain Biking
- Green Horse Ranch
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Quito to stay in
There are many of hostels and hotels in town to accommodate all types of visitors. Most people stay in the new town, which is closer to the nightlife. For travellers with very early departures or very late arrivals from Mariscal Sucre International Airport, as well as those who are not staying in Quito but continuing elsewhere should consider looking at accommodations in Tababela or Puembo for the convenience of not needing to make the 25-km journey. In the old town it's hard to tell the quality of a hotel from the outside. Many of the best hotels have only an innocuous entry to the street, with the luxury only evident as you enter.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Quito
127 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Plaza Grande | 1943 | 0.1 km |
| Le Parc Hotel, Beyond Stars | 5.4 km | |
| Adamas House Hotel | 0.4 km | |
| Aleida's Hostal | 3.6 km | |
| Altura Rooms & Suites | 6.3 km | |
| Apartamentos Los Quipus | 3.2 km | |
| Aparthotel Amaranta | 2.4 km | |
| ArtPlaza | 2.6 km | |
| Blue Door Housing Historic Quito | 1.0 km | |
| Blue House Youth Hostel | 3.0 km | |
| Boutique Hotel Antinea | 3.2 km | |
| Boutique Hotel Cultura Manor | 2.3 km | |
| Bunker Hause | 4.0 km | |
| Casa Aliso Hotel Boutique | 3.6 km | |
| Casa Andina | 2.7 km | |
| Casa El Edén | 0.5 km | |
| Casa Hotel Baquedano | 2.8 km | |
| Casa Joaquin Boutique Hotel | 3.0 km | |
| Casa Magnolia | 9.5 km | |
| Casa Q | 4.1 km | |
| Casa Vintage Hotel Boutique | 2.7 km | |
| Casa Vista Hermosa Quito | 0.9 km | |
| Chakana Hotel Boutique | 1.2 km | |
| Chapelet Hostal | 18.9 km | |
| Dolce Lobo Boutique Stay | 3.2 km | |
| Embassy Quito | 2.9 km | |
| Estancia De La Campiña | 16.6 km | |
| Fenix Hotel | 2.4 km | |
| Friends Hotel & Rooftop | 0.3 km | |
| Galapagos Natural Life Hostel | 3.0 km | |
| GUESTHOUSE NELSON | 1.0 km | |
| Heritage Inn | 3.0 km | |
| Hilton Colon Quito | 2.2 km | |
| Holiday Inn Express Quito | 3.7 km | |
| Holiday Inn Quito Airport, an IHG Hotel | 19.7 km | |
| Hostal Alcala | 3.2 km | |
| Hostal Capri | 3.4 km | |
| Hostal del Piamonte | 3.0 km | |
| Hostal Juana de Arco | 0.5 km | |
| Hostal L'Auberge Inn | 1.9 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Quito
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Quito are July to September. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; April is the wettest, with about 345 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Quito: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), about 21 km from the city centre in a straight line; Cotopaxi International Airport (LTX, 77 km) and Lieutenant Colonel Luis A. Mantilla International Airport (TUA, 145 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Taxis and buses are everywhere and very inexpensive. There are 3 independent systems of buses, that have enclosed stations - the stops are roadside platforms, covered with entrances where you pay your fare on the way in. There are a few transfer stations, but most transfers involve exiting the station. They are very inexpensive ($0.35 for a single ride (Nov 2022). These lines follow north-south-lines down through the heart of Quito, and they have stations close to La Mariscal where most hotels are located.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
UIO · Mariscal Sucre International Airport
LTX · Cotopaxi International Airport
TUA · Lieutenant Colonel Luis A. Mantilla International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Quito
Eat
You name it, and it's available in Quito. Restaurants range from the basic places offering chicken and rice for $1.50 to international food with very expensive prices. The country benefits from all worlds, with a variety of dishes inspired by both coastal and Andean produce. Seafood and fish is fresh and delicious, while meats, particularly pork, are excellent. These combine with typical ingredients such as potatoes, plantains and all sorts of tropical and Andean fruits. A good area to head to for eating out is the Plaza El Quinde (or Foch) which is in the Mariscal district at Foch y Reina Victoria. There are dozens of restaurants and eateries all around this area.
Drink
There are several Ecuadorian brands of beer, but you generally won't find any variety in Quito. Usually you'll get a choice of just two. The most prevalent throughout the country is Pilsener, with Club being a little more expensive, but not wildly more flavourful. There are some micro-brews available, but it's still a fledgling industry in Quito.
Stay safe
As in every big city tourists should take special care in certain areas. Do not travel up El Panecillo on foot; use a taxi even during the day. Not only is the neighborhood bad, but the road leading up the hill has very narrow sidewalks, and sometimes no sidewalks at all. This is dangerous as large buses chug up and down the road with little room for pedestrians. It is probably best to avoid "Gringolandia" (La Mariscal area) alone at night, as there is quite a bit of assault even during the day. Drunk foreigners are easy targets in this neighborhood full of bars and clubs, so stick with a group. This is not, however, a reason to miss out on all this lively area has to offer.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Quito: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Quito?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Quito are July to September. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; April is the wettest, with about 345 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Quito?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), about 21 km from the city centre in a straight line; Cotopaxi International Airport (LTX, 77 km) and Lieutenant Colonel Luis A. Mantilla International Airport (TUA, 145 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Quito?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Quito
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.